How do you use mobile apps for community outreach?

1 Define your goals

Before you start developing or choosing a mobile app for community outreach, you need to define your goals and objectives. What are you trying to achieve with your app? Who are you trying to reach and why? How will you measure your success and impact? Having clear and specific goals will help you design and implement your app effectively, and align it with your overall outreach strategy.

2 Choose your platform

The next step is to choose your platform, or the type of mobile app that best suits your goals and audience. There are different types of mobile apps, such as native apps, web apps, hybrid apps, and progressive web apps. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the functionality, accessibility, compatibility, and cost. For example, native apps are faster and more reliable, but require more development time and resources. Web apps are easier and cheaper to create and update, but have limited features and performance. Hybrid apps and progressive web apps combine the benefits of both, but may have some trade-offs in terms of security and user experience.

3 Design your app

Once you have chosen your platform, you need to design your app, or the layout, content, and features of your app. You want it to be user-friendly, engaging, and informative so that it attracts and retains your audience. When designing your app, consider elements such as branding to reflect your identity and values with a consistent look and feel. Navigation should be clear and intuitive, allowing users to easily access the information they need. Content should be relevant and useful, concise, clear, and compelling. You can use different formats such as text, images, videos, audio or interactive elements to appeal to different preferences and learning styles. Furthermore, you should include features that enhance your outreach goals such as push notifications, social media integration, feedback forms, surveys, quizzes, gamification or donations.

4 Promote your app

Once you have designed your app, you need to make it visible and accessible to your target audience. To do this, you can use a variety of channels and methods, like creating a landing page for your app on your website with a download link, description, screenshots, testimonials, or video demo. You can also use your social media platforms to announce your app launch, share updates, invite feedback, and encourage sharing and referrals. Additionally, you can use your email list to send newsletters, invitations, reminders, or incentives to download and use your app. Lastly, you can use events such as workshops, webinars or conferences to showcase your app, demonstrate its benefits, and distribute flyers or QR codes.

5 Evaluate your app

Finally, you need to evaluate your app and measure its performance and impact. Various tools and metrics can be used to track and assess your app, such as analytics software to collect data on downloads, sessions, retention, engagement, conversions, or revenue. Feedback tools, such as ratings, reviews, comments, suggestions, or complaints can be used to gather user opinions. Impact tools like surveys, interviews, case studies, or testimonials can be used to evaluate and demonstrate app outcomes like awareness, knowledge, attitude, behavior, or action. By following these steps you can create a mobile app that suits your needs and expectations and enhances your outreach efforts.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?